title: [Skin protection at work in Croatian hairdressers (results of the EvaHair questionnaire developed within the EU project "SafeHair")].
abstract: Hairdressers are under a high occupational risk of developing various health disorders, particularly regarding the skin. The "SafeHair" project was implemented from 2010 to 2012, with the aim to develop health and safety standards for the prevention of occupational skin diseases in hairdressing. Croatian hairdressers participated in the project. The aim of this work was to establish the actual status of skin protection in Croatian hairdressers. Data were collected by the EvaHair questionnaire developed within the "SafeHair" project. A total of 213 questionnaires were analysed. The sample comprised 133 (64%) salon owners, 46 (22%) employees, and 31 (14%) trainees. Thirty-six (17%) subjects confirmed the presence of skin disorders in their salons in the last 3 years, and almost all of the subjects (98%) considered the prevention of occupational skin diseases important. We found a high proportion (from 40% to 50%) of non-answered questions about risk assessment. Protective gloves were mostly used when exposed to chemicals (88%), but rarely for hair washing (13%). They were available to the majority of subjects (95%), but 32% of subjects had trouble wearing them. Hairdressers with over 30 years of working experience used gloves for washing and cutting hair more frequently than those with less than 30 years of experience (p<0.05). Education on skin protection was more often provided (39%) than education on the protection of the respiratory (15%) and musculosceletal (18%) systems. A high proportion of subjects needed assistance with interpreting laws, regulations, and information about products (57%), as well as in the implementation of risk assessment methods (49%). The results indicate a need for further education on the health risks and the implementation of protective measures. This should be carried out during vocational education and later in the form of permanent education.
authors.affiliation: Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kujundžić Brkulj
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001461:Barbering / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires